Programs for gifted students are in great demand in secondary schools. An administrator can easily supervise the development of such a program by starting small, using existing resources, avoiding "ousidersism" and perfectionism, developing a working definition of giftedness, developing a sensible identification procedure, and publicizing the…

In 1988, when a Maine test failed to measure educational accountability in Vermont, portfolios constituted the bottom-up response to needed reform. In 1990, Kentucky's Educational Reform Act mandated assessment by performance-based tasks, including portfolios. Both states feature scoring criteria (rubrics) based on four performance levels and…

Presents a field-developed and tested method of comprehensive planning for program/project development. (Author)

When the four administrators at a Wisconsin high school indicated they would appreciate staff feedback about their performance, union representatives undertook the task of formalizing an evaluation agreement, developing an evaluation instrument, implementing the evaluation process, and reviewing assessment procedures. The instrument and written…

Jefferson Meetings were developed in 1984 to provide an innovative way to teach students an understanding of the United States Constitution. Describes how to organize such an event. (MD)

Innovation insurance involves planning in order to avoid pitfalls. When adopting microcomputers, this means answering 10 preliminary questions, appointing a coordinator of computer services, and arranging inservice teacher training. (Author/JM)

Suggests techniques for planning and administering gifted programs, identifying gifted students, and gaining program acceptance. (JM)

A South Carolina high school received a three-year, $90,000 state grant to study a brain-based approach to helping students reach their full potential. Examination of faculty teaching styles and student learning styles revealed that only high achievers' learning styles matched their teachers' fact-based approaches. New programs and technologies…

The attitude and modeling behavior of the entire middle school staff is the most important factor in providing an effective school learning environment. Discusses program ingredients necessary to help staff members furnish authentic middle level education. Includes 15 references. (Author/MD)

After two semesters of using the four-block schedule, a Wisconsin high school experienced academic growth, improved grades and discipline, reduced stress, and a more personalized school environment. Interested schools should gain support, create a site-level decision-making model, demonstrate the need for change, clearly define restructuring…

In 1990, Florida State University joined the National Alliance--a Danforth/NASSP-sponsored group of four universities who initially would receive performance-based leadership training for revamping their administrator training programs. So far, Florida State has completed a five-year participation plan, reconceptualized three advanced degree…

Concerned about improving beginning principals' professional development, the Minnesota Administrators' Academy initiated an administrative mentoring program in the early 1990s. A recent evaluation found that successful mentoring relationships involved mutually respectful pairs that met at least monthly and participated in various activities…

The literature suggests collaborative planning is purely egalitarian, but this article identifies a form called "dialectical collaboration" providing situationally determined variations in the locus of control. One district's experience planning an administrators' inservice program illustrates dialectical collaboration. The authors urge…

To assist incoming freshmen, a Colorado Springs high school initiated learning resource labs staffed with academic coaches. Combining study hall, homeroom, and advisory group, the labs offer adult tutors, workshops on conflict resolution and study skills, career and technology exploration opportunities, a learning styles inventory, free reading…

Traditional school administrative policy often establishes the structure and organization of the school first; from this structure, the program and curriculum then follow. By contrast, a case study is offered of an educational change as support for the reverse sequence, whereby the school program can be the determiner of school organization. (CJH)